Termites can turn dream homes into nightmares. These invasive insects make their meals out of structures and cost home and business owners time, money, and stress. Here, we go over some facts about these little terrors.
How Long Do Termites Live?
The lifespan of a worker or soldier termite is about one to two years. That may seem like a long time for an insect; however, it’s short when compared to the queen’s life. Queen termites, tucked away in a safe, comfortable home, can live over ten years.
How Many Varieties of Termites Exist?
There are nearly 3,000 different species of termites throughout the world. They are categorized into three groups: dry wood, damp wood, and subterranean. In Texas, dry wood and subterranean termites are common.
What Types of Environment Do They Thrive In?
As their name suggests, dry wood termites live in dry wood. They don’t need soil contact and they don’t require much moisture.
Subterranean termites live underground and in large colonies. They create tunnels to their food source and are responsible for the majority of termite damage in homes.
Like dry wood termites, damp wood doesn’t need soil contact. However, they do love moist wood. They thrive in coastal areas. These termites typically aren’t found in homes and buildings.
How Much Damage Do Termites Cause?
The amount of money home and business owners spend on termite damage and control each year in the United States is staggering. According to the National Pest Management Association, Americans spend over $5 billion annually. What makes this worse is that most insurance policies don’t cover termite damage.
Termites can wreak havoc in your home, business, and life. They infest and eat away at structures, often for a long while before discovered. Regular inspections and treatments are imperative.
If you would like more information about termites or would like to schedule a professional visit, please contact us.